Herd, Cecilee

Biography

A third-generation Aggie, Cecilee was raised in Center Point, Texas, where she participated in 4-H, raising sheep and chickens, and served on both the Kerr County and District 10 4-H Councils. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. During her time as a student, she was involved in the National Agribusiness Marketing Association, Saddle & Sirloin; was an Orientation Leader; and worked in the Department of Agricultural Economics for two years. Today, she serves as Senior Vice President for The Association of Former Students, leading their engagement efforts.

Cecilee began her career as Membership Coordinator for the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), a position she held from 1995 to 2000. In this role, she supported the organization’s efforts to connect leaders across business, academia, and government to improve the global food and agribusiness system.

In May 2000, Cecilee joined The Association of Former Students as Executive Assistant to the President and CEO. She was promoted to Vice President in 2008 and, in 2011, assumed responsibility of The Association’s Events team. Under her direction, Association and Association-hosted events grew from 155 in 2011 to more than 350 in 2024. Highlights include the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Gala, which annually recognizes individuals with the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University, and Aggie Ring Day, a highly anticipated event on campus, drawing thousands of family members and friends to celebrate students receiving their Aggie Ring. She also oversaw the planning team for the Aggie Park Dedication Weekend in September 2022, which featured a kickoff concert by Robert Earl Keen ’78.

In 2021, Cecilee’s leadership role was expanded to include The Association’s Former Student Programs team, overseeing Class Programs, A&M Club Programs, Constituent Networks, Traveling Aggies, and Young Alumni Programs. The Class Programs team works with Class Agents to organize milestone reunions, starting at the 25th anniversary and continuing through the 50th. Additionally, her team plans the annual Sul Ross Group Reunion for all Classes who graduated 55+ years ago, as well as the Young Alumni Kickback, an annual tailgate for recent graduates. Cecilee leads the team responsible for The Association’s 258 chartered A&M Clubs, which connect former students around the world. Her team works with over 300 local A&M Clubs and Muster groups worldwide in support of Aggie Muster. In addition, the Club Programs team plans and executes Texas A&M’s away game yell practices prior to every away football game, as well as collaborates with the Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Capital City (Austin), San Antonio, and Brazos County A&M Clubs to host the annual Coach’s Nights featuring Texas A&M’s head football coach. Furthermore, Cecilee is responsible for the team that manages The Association’s 15 chartered Constituent Networks, which represent groups of individuals beyond Class and A&M Club affiliations. She also leads the Traveling Aggies team, which organizes over 70 high-quality travel experiences annually, offering specialized itineraries to all seven continents.

Upon being promoted to Senior Vice President in 2023, Cecilee assumed responsibility for managing The Association of Former Students’ Campus Programs team, which includes the Aggie Ring office. Under her leadership, the Campus Programs team strives to achieve The Association’s fourth tenant of its mission to serve the student body’ through engagement and outreach efforts. With 94% of the undergraduate student body purchasing an Aggie Ring when they become eligible to order, the Aggie Ring team serves current students in the ordering process, as well as handles resizing, repairs, and replacements for former students. In 2024, The Association of Former Students sold 16,500 Aggie Rings, making it the largest Aggie Ring order in its 145-year history.

Additionally, Cecilee manages communications, events, and protocol for The Association’s Board of Directors and President and CEO, overseeing the coordination for their quarterly board meetings and serving as the liaison for admissions-related matters. She also has oversight for The Association’s Leadership Council, which is the governing body of The Association of Former Students. Drawing on 25 years of experience working with volunteers, she played a key role in creating The Association of Former Students’ Volunteer Expectations Policy, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of volunteers in support of The Association’s noble mission. Cecilee and her husband, Larry ’00, are Endowed Century Club members and proud parents of three Aggies: McKenlee ’21, Kaylee ’24, and Will ’27, an Agricultural Economics major. They own and operate a large-scale cow-calf operation in Brazos County with McKenlee, Kaylee, and Will having raised and exhibited market steers, breeding heifers, commercial steers, and commercial heifers during their years in 4-H and FFA. In Cecilee’s free time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.

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